Neb. officials moving forward with veterans home

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials are moving forward with plans to build a new veterans' home in Kearney, but design and construction work won't begin until federal funding is approved.

State officials held a meeting this week with 26 different architectural and engineering firms that are interested in the project. The state issued a formal request on November 11th for a contractor to help design and construct the new, $121 million facility.

The decision to build the home in Kearney faces opposition from many residents in Grand Island, where it's been located for 126 years.

Gerry Oligmueller, acting director of the Department of Administrative Services, says officials could select a consultant by late December. But he says the state won't formally hire a firm until the project is approved for federal funding.

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